Massage-cup.



A PATENTED MEAY12',1903. 0.- PFANSGHMIDT & J. SIEFERT.

MASSAGE 0UP.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 14', 1902.

.110 MODET.

NlTED STATES Patented May 12, 1903b ATENT Fries.

MASSAGE-CUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,003, dated May 12', 1903.

I Application filed June 14,1902. Serial No. 111,694. (N0 model.)

T0 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES PFAN- SCHMIDT and JOHN SIEFERT, ctizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Massage-Cup,

of which the following i s a full, clear, and;

exact description.

This invention relates to cups intended for massage purposes and adapted to produce a kneading or vibratory action when used inconnection with rocking shafts suitably actuated to impart the proper vibratory motion, which motionstimulates the skin circulation and nerve centers of the scalp, face, or body, producing not only a local stimulation, but improving the circulation and nerve action at localities considerably dis-,

taut from the point of application.

While this invention is not limited to use upon any particular type of massagemachine, it is especially adapted for use on the machine described in our application, Serial No. 83,550, filed November 25, 1901.

Reference is had to the accompanying draw; ings, forming a part of this specification, in

tudinal sectional view of the cup of Fig. 1'

with the shaft removed; Fig. 8, a similar view of the cup of Fig. 2, and Fig "'9 a similar view of the cup of Fig. 3.

The cup consists of a body portion Ct of substantially bell-shaped formation and is preferably constructed of rubber, having sufficient rigidity to produce the vibratory or kneading motion above referred to, and is fashioned with a top or head b, which may be flat. as, in cups of Figs. 1 and 2, or rounded, as in the cup of Fig. 3, and on this head and preferably formed integral therewith, is an elevated ring 0, through which and the head extends an aperture (1, as shown. The head in all cases should be of suflicient thickness to afford considerable rigidity, which is necessary in order to withstand the effect of the vibratory motion imparted to the cup when in use, and from the head the walls of the cup extend, which walls are of sufficient thickness to transmit the vibratory motion imparted to the head to the annular contactrim e, which rim is of sufficient thickness and rigidity to produce the kneading or vibratory efiect for which the cup'is intended and at the same time of sufficient elasticity to produce a cushioning action when in use, thereby preventing injury to the skin at the point of application. This contacting rim may be smooth, as in the cups of Figs. 1 and 3, which form is adapted for useon the more tender portions of the body or face; but for use on the scalp or other less tender portions of the body the cup of Fig. 2 having serrated edges is preferable.

The cup of Fig. 2, as shown, is provided on its edge with a series of elevations e, separated by a series of depressions e The serrated edge produces a greater frictional action than a smooth edge and at the same time prevents thepossibility of any suction when in operation, and this cup will be found particularly adapted for use where it is desirable to transmit the vibratory action beyond the point of application to the nerve centers or organs beneath in order to stimulate their action.

Through the head of the cup, Whatever its form, may be passed a shaft f, preferably screw-threaded 011 its end, and said shaft is secured in place by means of an exterior cap g, provided with an annular flange g, which fits down over and compresses the elevated ring 0, and the shaft is further secured within the cup by means of a nut h, as shown in Fig. 4. In order that the nut may be readily removed to permit of the insertion of a new cup onto the shaft, said nut is provided with recesses h, adapted for the insertion thereinto of a spanner-wrench or a similar implement. When in use, the shaft may be inserted and held in the machine by a clamp or other similar device, from which it may be easily removed in order to permit the application of a cup of difierent formation when desired.

Fig. 5 illustrates the action of the cup when applied to the body. The opposite edges of the cup being alternately brought into contact with the skin at a very high rate of speed imparts a kneading or vibratory motion, whose radius of influence is very considerable, afiecting the action of organs a foot or more from the point of application. In fact, the vibration when applied to the back of the neck, for instance, can be felt all over the body. The machine by which the cup is vibrated is so arranged that it may be moved around so that the contact rim 6 may be brought into contact with different parts of the scalp or body of the person operated upon. When the cup is vibrated at a very high rate of speed, the motion-will be such that instead of kneading the skin it will produce a frictional or rubbing action on the surface thereof, which will be found advantageous in removing dead cuticle and improving the surface of the skin.

What we regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

head and secured thereto, substantially as described.

2. In a massage-cup, the combination of a body of elastic cushioning material of an elongated bell-shaped formation, having a head provided with a central aperture therethrough, an operating edge of suflicient elasticity to afford a cushioning-surface and having walls of a less thickness than the head, of sufficient rigidity to transmit to the operating edge the vibratory motion imparted to the head, a vibratable shaft inserted through the aperture of the head and secured'therein by an exterior cap and an interior nut, substantially as described. I

3. In a massage-cup, the combination of a body of elastic cushioning material of an elongated bell-shaped formation having a head provided with a central aperture therethrough, a serrated operating edge of sufficient elasticity to afiord a cushioning-surface and having walls of less thickness than the head of sufi'icient rigidity to transmit to the operating ed ge the vibratory motion imparted to the head, and a vibratable shaft inserted through the aperturre of the head and secured therein by an exterior cap and interior nut, substantially as desribed.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES PFANSCHMIDT. JOHN SIEFERT. Witnesses:

CHARLES F. NEWTON, RICHARD S. BALIMAN. 

